Renania-Palatinat

In the Palatinate, people enjoy hearty food such as stuffed pork belly and sausages. The same is true of Rhinelanders, although their cuisine is inspired more by neighbouring Belgium and the Netherlands. In the Palatinate, Moselle, Nahe, Ahr and Rheinhessen wine regions, the quality of restaurants is especially high – from a simple wine tavern to a restaurant with three Michelin stars.

Brogsitter Sanct Peter, a historical inn since 1246, is up there with the very best restaurants in Germany. Its history dates right back to 600 AD. Under Michelin-starred chef Christian Schmidt and Stefan Krupp, the restaurant serves exquisite, innovative gourmet food, freshly prepared and accompanied by wines and sparkling wines from the Brogsitter vineyard estate. The restaurant adjoins Romantik Hotel Sanct Peter.

Welcome to Steinheuers Zur Alten Post in Heppingen, where Michelin-starred chef Hans Stefan Steinheuer serves gourmet food in his Zur Alten Post restaurant, which ranks among the best in Germany. Rustic regional cuisine can be enjoyed at Landgasthof Poststuben and, in fine weather, beneath the walnut tree in the summer garden. The hotel is a great place to relax and there is a lounge bar for guests to linger over an apéritif, a cigar or a digestif.

Hotel & Restaurant Luther in the picturesque town of Freinsheim has it all: individual style, bright, contemporary interiors, a sense of history, beautiful rural surroundings and excellent transport connections. Dieter Luther prepares seasonally oriented creations using the freshest of ingredients and selects exquisite wines to complement them. His cuisine is featured in all the important restaurant guides.

Head chef Renato Manzi conjures sublime cuisine at Passione Rossa gourmet restaurant at Romantikhotel BollAnt's im Park. This gem of a hotel enjoys an idyllic location on the banks of the Nahe river on the edge of Bad Sobernheim. Owned by the Bolland-Anton family for over 100 years, it specialises in health and wellness, and nothing matters more than the wellbeing of its guests. The heritage-listed art nouveau villas and the modern spa are set in a large private park – the perfect place to be on a summer's day.

Frank Buchholz, Michelin-starred chef and rising star of 2012, has his restaurant in Gonsenheim in Mainz. He places great importance on locally sourced ingredients, adding a certain mediterranean flair and combining it all in his own inimitable way to create new fusions of flavour. There is also an excellent international wine list with the perfect pairing for every dish.

Becker's Hotel, a member of the prestigious Design Hotels association, is known for its clean lines, elegant design and unusual architecture. Residents and other diners can enjoy the creations of chef de cuisine Wolfgang Becker in the gourmet restaurant, and Becker's Hotel also has a family vineyard, a wine bar and a second restaurant, the Weinhaus. The centre of Trier is just a few minutes away, though a stroll in the surrounding vineyards makes a great alternative to shopping, sightseeing and culture.

Restaurant Freundstück is a delight for all the senses. Chef de cuisine is Jens Fischer, who skilfully complements his precise, modern creations with international flavours. As well as an atmosphere that is both restful and inspiring, the restaurant has a surprisingly sleek yet wonderfully detailed elegance. The Freundstück was ranked as one of the ten most beautiful restaurants in Germany by Der Feinschmecker magazine.

Thanks to the Lafer family's passion and hard work, this former inn is now one of Germany's top gastronomic destinations. Stromburg Castle is the perfect place to spend some time enjoying an all-encompassing dining experience. Every meal in Le Val d'Or is unique and unforgettable. Le Val d'Or celebrates slow food; its gourmet menu presents the freshest, highest quality regional produce, masterfully cooked.

Landhaus St. Urban is surrounded by forests and vineyards in a quiet tributary valley of the Middle Moselle. This former mill has retained its traditional character and charm, and is now a popular gourmet destination. In the restaurant, head chef Harald Rüssel serves modern, innovative German cuisine using lots of regional ingredients and fish caught off the coast of France. On warm summer days, guests can dine on the idyllic summer terrace beside the lake.

Waldhotel Sonnora, set amid a forest and a beautiful park, has been a family-run luxury hotel since 1978. The immaculate gardens and idyllic setting make for a restful, relaxing break at any time of year. At the heart of the hotel is the multi-award-winning Restaurant Sonnora, which is much prized by gourmets in the know. Chef de cuisine Helmut Thieltges treats his guests to creative, sophisticated food and makes every visit a genuine delight.

The family-run Hotel Krone in Herxheim-Hayna dates back 200 years and is firmly on the gourmet map. In his kitchen, Karl-Emil Kuntz, the Krone's chef de cuisine and confectioner, conjures up creations imbued with craftsmanship and passion. Traditions are honoured but classic, home-spun delicacies always appear in a new, contemporary guise. His guests can look forward to a memorable culinary experience.

Hotel Deidesheimer Hof, a five-star traditional luxury hotel on the historical market square in Deidesheim on the German Wine Route, is ideal for a relaxing and indulgent stay. In its multi-award-winning Restaurant Schwarzer Hahn, chef de cuisine Stefan Neugebauer delights his guests with his creative 'haute cuisine du pays', a blend of classic cooking and fine Palatinate food. Exquisite wines from the Vinothek are the perfect accompaniment.